15 minutes before I HAD to leave, I was frantically searching my library’s online book selection. The title of this book called to me. Usually, I take a bit more time deciding which book to read, but I was in a bind. And there was no way I was going to willingly go into a doctor’s waiting room without my own reading material (Seriously, think about it folks, sick people have been touching those magazines for at least 3 years). I usually plan a week in advance for these appointments.

Anyway, so long story short-er-er, I didn’t like it. This book was weird. The premise was weird, and nothing happened. I just kept waiting, but NOTHING HAPPENED … NOTHING. I don’t run on treadmills (actually I don’t run at all, did I mention that I’m VERY pregnant) but I imagine this book delivered about as much as running on a treadmill gets you to a grocery store. It doesn’t people and neither did this book. You’re not going anywhere, you’re just running to run. This book felt like I was reading to read. I got nothing out of it, except that by the end I was annoyed. I don’t have a lot of time to invest in reading so I like to get something out of it, whether that’s inspiration or entertainment, and this book didn’t give me either.

This book did have potential, but it failed to live up to my expectations. Especially with that awesome title. Why was the Lemon Cake sad? I love Lemon Cake, and in my opinion the lemon is a generally cheerful fruit (even though it is really sour). So I was intrigued. It was told in the first person, but I felt like I never got to know my narrator. She was so elusive. I didn’t feel connected to her by the end, and the end? What end? In my opinion, Bender just quit writing. You know like Napolean Dynamite, minus the hilarity? It just kind of ends. I mean, this book didn’t even make me cry and it was supposed to be sad. I haven’t read one of her books before so I’m not sure if this is her usual MO. In my opinion, this book is not worth reading. But awesome title, right?

The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake

Aimee Bender. Doubleday 2010, Hardcover, 292 pages, $3.95

My only complaint would be the brief connections between Lisbeth and Mikael, since I was always hoping they would hook up. However, since they never actually hook up it only makes me want it more so I feel that was a well placed plot decision. Questions raised in the first book are answered here which provides a nice sense of continuity. The novels are not super deep thinkers, but they are a great alternative to beach trash if you are looking for a good time. There is language, sex, violence, sexual violence, etc. so enter at your own risk.

The Girl Who Played with Fire (Millennium Trilogy, No 2)

Reg Keeland (Translator). Vintage 2010, Mass Market Paperback, 752 pages, $4.36

I felt the protagonist Jacob was well written and well rounded, but not all the characters received the same careful attention. I was disappointed in the love interest Marlena, and was slightly annoyed at her lack of dimension. Jacob is instantly and completely in love with her, but her descriptions go no deeper than ‘beautiful’ and ‘good with animals’. As my husband so eloquently asked me after watching Twilight for the first time, ‘why are these guys so in love with her’? I don’t quite have the answer to that question, but as the story unfolds it is a great ride with the perfect twist at the climax.

The story is told alternately by Jacob as an old man in an old folks home, and Jacob in the first person as the events unfold. I think this idea has been done before and I’m not really a fan of it, but I liked the way the author portrays his life and thoughts as an older man. I especially liked the ending and thought ‘why the heck not?’ As much as I don’t think the ending is likely, I read books for fun and would have been disappointed by a more realistic ending. This book has some language, a moderate amount of sex, and some violence. Also violence towards animals.

Water for Elephants

Sara Gruen. Algonquin Books 2007, Paperback, 350 pages, $5.93

I noticed the author sometimes over explained and spoon fed clues, but that is a common problem in the mystery/suspense genre. I hated Flavia. She is precocious to the point of nausea and in no way reads as an 11 year old girl. She reads like what an adult would love to imagine a precocious 11 year old would be. The ending was trite and disappointing. After constantly being told how bright and exceptional Flavia is, I was surprised when Flavia couldn’t get herself out of trouble and the author had to write in a rescue for her. I was turned off of the book even before I started it by the invitation to join the Flavia de Luce fan club on the dust jacket. I’m ecstatic the author has a deal to write four or five more. I would recommend this book to young adults looking for a clean murder mystery with a victorian feel. The book contains no language, sex or violence.

The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie

Alan Bradley. Bantam 2010, Paperback, 416 pages, $6.25

Likes:
Anything travel related. Immerse me in new places, people, and cultures.
The idea of searching for a greater understanding of spirituality.
Recognizing something about your life you want to change – and changing it.
Putting your mind, heart, and personal ideas out there for other to people to read and judge. Whether you agree with her conclusions or feel she accomplished her goal, putting it all out there takes guts.

Dislikes:
I think Elizabeth Gilbert is a little bit whiny and sort of comes across as an entitled, self absorbed, 30 something looking to ‘find’ herself.
For someone living in these three amazing places, I felt Elizabeth Gilbert spent a lot of time surrounded by other expats and ended up being more of a spectator or tourist.
I’m not sure she did anything in her search for spirituality abroad that she couldn’t have done where she was.
She is openly looking for personal spirituality and a higher power, but only follows the first path she comes across and doesn’t really look anywhere else.
She seeks pleasure in Italy, but follows a preconceived set of rules about what pleasure is.
It ended with a romance. Wow. I don’t mind if she finds love, but to end the book like that feels like the moral of the story is leave your problems behind by taking a huge vacation, try to get right with yourself and god, and start over with a new man. I’m not sure this is what I hoped to take away from this book. I felt slightly disappointed that the promises of personal revelation and spiritual enlightenment were sort of forgotten and discarded in favor of ‘balance’ and an exciting new lover.

To summarize I enjoyed this book a lot. I liked following her thoughts, ideas, and choices as she struggled with some large questions. Even when I felt unfulfilled by the answers in the book, I enjoyed thinking about the questions and appreciate the struggle. In defence of Elizabeth Gilbert, I have heard lots of people refer to her as selfish. I am going to disagree and call her self absorbed. A grown woman with no kids can make her own decisions, and I don’t begrudge anyone who has the funds and inclination to travel for a year doing whatever they want.

Eat, Pray, Love

Elizabeth Gilbert. Penguin (Non-Classics) 2010, Paperback, 352 pages, $2.07

I thought the premise of the book was good and easily became hooked. Then the book really started to tank. A great idea does not a book make. The book felt like it had been witten with the message first and the plot only there to shove the message in your face. I thought a glaring hole existed when the only characters introduced in the book were alphas and the savage. A society so heavily based on eugenics and caste, and we don’t get to meet any of the lower members? Odd. Also, with such large issues to deal with, the author seemed to disproportionatly focus on femle promiscuity in this horrible new world. Really? That’s the biggest problem? And why are there so many shakespear quotes? I mean, the novel isn’t that thick to begin with. I suppose the constant quotes were included to beef up the page count.

So now that I’ve ripped this book a new one, I will say everyone should probably read it. It is one of those modern classics that pops up from time to time. The premise is interesting, the gently fascist consumerist government model is interesting, and it might be worth it just for the fordisms.

Brave New World

Aldous Huxley. Harper Perennial Modern Classics 2006, Paperback, 288 pages, $7.49

Alice Munro did a terrific job giving each character a disctinct voice, and the relationships and motivations sublty unfold as the plot carries you along. I think though, that I didn’t really ‘get it’. I think Alice Munro has an incredible ability to fit an entire lifetime in a fraction of the sapce of most novelists, but by the end I had a hard time connecting the stories as a whole, or finding a truth or message to come away with. While the stories mostly involved the same central location, I kept looking for more overlap or cohesion. I didn’t find satisfaction, but that is most likely a problem with my own expectations and not the collection.

I would recommend this book if you love Canadian authors, or if you only have time to read about 40 pages in one sitting.

Open Secrets

Alice Munro. Vintage 1995, Paperback, 294 pages, $6.00

Anne Enright’s writing is lovely to read. Her writing is beautifully descriptive, honest, poignant and flows well through a book based on internal dialogue. Then every few pages you get slapped in the face with repeated descriptions of genitals and bodily functions. I think the point was to sharpen the corners and add some stark, raw, contrast, but after the shock value wore out it was really just unnecessary and distracting.

I felt the memory laden writing style worked well for a book based around grief, with a romantic, introspective journey through lives lived and choices made. I am trying to decide whether I liked the constant alterations and midirections as Veronica’s memories unfolded. I felt a real sense and depth of the characters, but most of the time their development was based on memories made up, memories imagined ending several ways, and usually no concrete answer as to what actually happened. While it is true that memory is an ephemeral thing that changes and corrodes as time passes, I’m not sure I enjoyed it as it moved the plot along.

What I took away from this book was an interesting insight into the hardships and complications of living in such a large family, how sharing a past with someone can change you, and how grief can cause you to question your choices. (Also how grief can cause you to become a little bit selfish and self distructive.) By the end I took the good parts of this novel with me and left the rest behind.

The Gathering

Anne Enright. Grove Press 2007, Hardcover, 272 pages, $7.58